SRC-JBJ H.B. 2645 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2645 77R7640 GWK-DBy: Capelo (Jackson) Jurisprudence 5/10/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Often in a criminal case it is necessary to sequester a jury for the jury's own protection. Members of juries that are not sequestered may be more susceptible to threats and intimidation. H.B. 2645 creates a jury sequestration fund from fees imposed on a convicted defendant to assist counties in sequestering juries. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 102A, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding Article 102.020, as follows: Art. 102.020. COURT COSTS; JURY SEQUESTRATION FUND. (a) Requires a defendant convicted of a felony offense in a district court to pay a $2.50 jury sequestration fee as a cost of court. (b) Requires a defendant convicted of a misdemeanor offense in a justice court, county court, county court at law, or district court to pay a $1.25 jury sequestration fee as a cost of court. (c) Provides that a person, in this article, is considered convicted if a sentence is imposed on the person or the person receives community supervision, including deferred adjudication. (d) Requires the clerks of the respective courts to collect the costs and pay them to the custodian of the county treasury, for deposit in a fund to be known as the jury sequestration fund. Authorizes a fund designated by this subsection to be used only to pay costs associated with sequestering a jury in a criminal case. (e) Requires the jury sequestration fund to be administered by or under the direction of the commissioners court. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2001.